Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-26

Having made thirty-hve miles when we
reached Salisbury, decided not to return to
the New Forest that night, but to make q very
early start Friday morning. We were on the
road by Z O'clock, but did not return via
Romsey, taking instead the Christ Church
road and entering the forest by Fortling-
bridge, and thence on to Ridinghood. From
Ridinghood we took the machine across tue
Forest OH the Poole road, and by the after
noon OF Friday had seen a good deal Of the
New Forest. There are two reasons why u
person cannot thoroughly explore the New
Forest on q tricycle.. First, the roads in parts
make it difficult, and, second, it is extremely
troublesome to find your way about if you
once leave the public road. At Lyndhurst,
therefore, we left our machine, hired a car
riage and driver, and spent several hours in
parts OF the forest not to be ridden through
wirh comfort on a tricycle.. The area of the
New Forest is Of great extent, reaching from
the Wiltshire border to the sea coast, north
and south. and from the southampton water
4, Poole harbor, east and west. A good deal
this is open heath or inclosed agricultural
and. The real forest scenery will be found
a O distance of about ten or twelve miles
he total area Of the New Forest is %, 1868
,cres. This estimate includes 296l9 acres of
,rivate property scattered in plots of different
lies, from large nlanors parks and villages
0 small cottage sites, all over it. The crown
and is 62,746 acres, or nearly 100 square
niles in superficial area at the present time.
while private proprietors own alone forty
our square miles 1t resembles somewhat in
shape butterfly with expanded wings. The
extreme length is about twenty -one miles and
The extreme breadth ten miles. have gone
this much into detail because nearly every
American have met since my stay in tho
New Forest has asked me these questions, and
two or three have not known what part Of
England the New Forest was in.
OF the many and varied pleasures of sum-
mer visit to this ancient fores, have no space
to speak. IL is about the only bit Of primeval
England left. The chief forest trees are the
oak, ash, birch and beech. There arc giant
oaks which have stood for centuries, beeches
with spreading branches covering the ground
so closely that nothing will grow beneath
them. The alder, larch, holly, hazel wild
cherry and chestnut are common and the
Scotch fir attains vigorous growth. There
are deer, foxes, badgers, offers, hares, rab-
bits, squirrels aud other smaller wild animals
Those who love birds woul find this old for
est a paradise. OF the 354 known British
birds no less than $50 have been observed i'm
the forest and ~ reside there all the wear
round. The forest is rich in ferlls and wild
flowers. Mr.. Wilson has attempted to give
the reader some idea of the trees OF the New
Forest (see previous letter. by the aid Of pho
Biography, but it is difficult even by illustra-
ton to convey anything like the grandeur OF
these wonderful old trees.
Early OH Saturday morning we departed
from the New Foresr. The road from Lynd-
hurst 10 Ringwood is the best in the New
Forest and commands some superb views
We are soon to exchange the open down, the
woodland and the coast line of the typical
English county of Hants for the bold bills
tue wild waste heaths and the restful beauty
Of tho great valleys OF Dorsetshire. / was
aware OF the fact that by far the grandest
scenery Of this country was hear the coast
and hence had determined to take route as
far south Us practicable. From Ring,Yool,
Hlnts, to Wimborne, Dorset, Ike distance is
about 10 miles, and from the latter point
through to the extreme western end " Dor
set, a distance of more than 80 miles, We were
never 10 miles from the southern coast. and
towards the latter part OF the journey i'm
sight of it. The road from Ringwood TO
Wimborne is pretty, fat and fairly good.
Dors-t has always been an agricultural and
pastural county; its rich meadows and
wide rolling hills being the chief sources OF
It's prosperity. 1t once had a share in the
wool trade, which brought the southwestern
counties of England so much wealth in the
Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries. We
were about to have "a new experience. Tbs
level roads of Hampshire were left behind for
rather rough and hilly roads abouGeing ia
flint stones. There was no poetry OF motion
about the hills Of Dorset. Much of the time
during that Saturday We had to walk and
push the tricycle. before us. The day was
very hot, for England, and the half way
houses few and far between. There was
very little of scenic interest. Our route lay
through waste heaths and hills of sand and
clay. There was some beauty Of color which
enthused my artistic friend, At Wareham
We stopped for rest and refreshment and put
up at the Rsd Lion. The town WAS antique,